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1655 S 3rd St. W, Ste 1
Missoula MT, 59801 USA

Ship:  Marina Svetaeva

Itinerary:  Kamchatka & the Commander Islands

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  Impressive wildlife

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Kamchatka is a spectacular world of turbulent rivers, towering volcanoes, hot springs and snow, taiga and tundra, wild animals and friendly people. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of the Commander Islands promises to be a highlight, with an abundance of marine and bird-life, dramatic scenery and fascinating culture.

Day 1 : Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka

We start our adventure in the city of Petropavlovsk, the economic and cultural centre of Kamchatka. This afternoon, our Russian officers and crew welcome us onboard Marina Svetaeva as we set sail through one of the finest natural harbours in the world, Avacha Bay.

Day 2 : Zhupanova River & Valley of the Geysers

The Zhupanova River estuary is one of the richest wildlife areas in Kamchatka. A scenic maze of channels and sandbars flanked by riverbanks covered in cottongrass, aspens and birch, we aim to Zodiac up the river, visit a salmon processing factory and take tundra walks in the hope of seeing the many bird species that thrive here, including the magnificent Steller's Sea Eagle. If conditions allow, an optional helicopter excursion will be available to visit Uzon Caldera and the famous Valley of the Geysers, a unique ravine with a myriad of gushing steam vents, bubbling mud pots and fissures.

Day 3 : Kronotksy Nature Reserve

Covering over 1 million square hectares, the Kronotsky National Biosphere Reserve is home to a remarkable diversity of flora and fauna. We hope to explore the area around the Chazma River on the northern end of the Reserve and attempt to anchor in Kamenistaya Bay, one of the best places in Kamchatka to see brown bears.

Days 4-5 : Medny Island, Commander Islands

Lying 175km off the Kamchatka coast, harsh and unstable climatic conditions have shaped the Commander Islands into a breathtaking maze of arches, sea stacks and cliffs. Dominated by impressive mountains that rise straight out of the sea, we cruise Medny's remote bays and take nature walks on land. We hope to observe some of the animals that make Medny their home including Arctic fox, sea otter, harbour seal, whales and an incredible number of seabirds such as red-legged kittiwakes, red-faced cormorants, laysan albatross and parakeet auklet.

Days 6-7 : Bering Island, Commander Islands

Exploring the rocky coastline of this magnificent island, we hope to land at Commander Bay, home to the shipwrecked survivors of Vitus Bering's Second Kamchatka Expedition of 1741. We pay respect to this great explorer at his gravesite and memorial. We may visit Severo Zapadny, a massive rookery situated below verdant green eelgrass meadows where northern fur seal, spotted seal and the rare Steller's Sea Lion breed side-by-side. Our visit to the Aleut fishing village of Nikolskoye includes a cultural performance and a trip to the small museum, home to a fascinating collection of Bering memorabilia and natural history displays.

Day 8 : Karaginskiy Island

Numerous habitats exist on this delightful island, including the taiga forests of mountain ash, pine and alder and a variety of lakes and wetland areas. We may begin to see some of the Eurasian bird specialties that frequent these more northern latitudes such as willow ptarmigan, oriental cuckoo and Arctic warbler. Weather permitting, we hope to visit Verkhoturova Island, whose black-sand beaches are sometimes used as haul-outs by walrus.

Day 9 : Govena Peninsula

We spend today in and around the picturesque fjords of Yuzhnaya Glybokaya and Lavrova Bay. Jagged peaks form a dramatic backdrop to these peaceful bays, where we hope to have the chance to stretch our legs among the tundra, keeping an eye out for brown bears, Arctic hare and mountain sheep.

Day 10 : Il'pyrskiy Cape & Ossora Village

A warm welcome awaits us in Ossora, where we take in a Koryak folk show and spend some time exploring the village. Many Koryak's are involved in the traditional pastimes of reindeer breeding and fishing and still dress in reindeer skin garments accentuated with intricate beadwork and embroidery.

Day 11 : Ozernoy Sound

Exploring the little visited landscapes of Ozernoy Sound offers the chance to experience expedition cruising at its best as we sail along this mysterious coastline in search of adventure. Our expert naturalists and expedition staff will help us investigate the areas alpine meadows, grasslands and glacier-fed rivers.

Day 12 : Kronotksy Nature Reserve

We return to Kronotsky Nature Reserve and aim to visit Cape Kozlova, the only breeding rookery of Steller's sea lions on the Kamchatka Coast. This afternoon we hope to land at Olga Bay situated at the northern end of Kronotsky Sound. The coastal lowlands of this large bay are covered with large volcanic mountain ranges, forming a perfect backdrop for our explorations.

Day 13 : Shipunskiy Peninsula

The sculpted rock pinnacles and mini fjords of the Shipunskiy Peninsula should make for some interesting landings. We aim to hike around some of the large coastal lakes in the area, on the lookout for some of the specialty birds of this region.

Day 14 : Petropavlovsk

We dock early at Petropavlovsk and enjoy a day tour, taking in the main city sights, visiting a sled dog kennel and a cultural show from the native Itelmen people. We overnight in our Petropavlovsk hotel.

Day 15 : Depart Petropavlovsk

Our adventure ends today, with transfers to the airport to connect with your onward flights.

Ship Description: Marina Svetaeva

Svetaeva was built in the famous Gdynia Poland ship yards in 1989 as an ice strengthened passenger vessel. Pronounced "Svetayva" and named after the famous Russian poet, contemporary of Boris Pasternak and Anna Akhmatova, she was built to transport people across frozen oceans in the Arctic and northern Pacific Oceans. She now spends the northern summers around the coast of the beautiful island of Sakhalin north of Japan. She was refurbished in early 2005 to provide comfortable but not luxurious accommodations for 100 passengers and 41 Russian crew. A helideck was added so that 2 helicopters could provide the magical key to unlock the secrets of the heavily iced coastlines of Deep Antarctica.

A fleet of Zodiacs with outboard motors will add to our ability to come to grips with Antarctica.

The ship is characterized by spacious cabins and large public spaces, including the bridge and outer decks, library, lecture room and bar.

Quad share Two lower berths, a desk, wardrobes and a wash basin. Showers and toilets are located in the companionway outside the cabin.	Triple Share Two lower berths and one upper, a desk, wardrobes and a wash basin. Showers and toilets are located in the companionway outside the cabin.
Twin Share Two lower berths, a desk, wardrobes and a wash basin. Showers and toilets are located in the companionway outside the cabin.	Twin Private Two lower berths, a desk, wardrobes and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin.
Mini Suite Lounge with desk and settee. A separate bedroom has two single beds. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and wash-basin. Ample storage. TV monitor, video player, fridge, tea and coffee making.	Suite Large lounge with desk and settee. A separate bedroom has a double and a single bed. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and wash-basin. Ample storage. TV monitor, video player, fridge, tea and coffee making.